By Darron Thomas, Southern Sports & Travel
The defending state champion Centreville Tigers claimed the district 5AA title Friday night before a wet home crowd with a convincing 34-12 win over #3 ranked Central Private. With the win Centreville will host district 6AA runners-up Glenbrook next Friday night in round one of the AA state playoffs.
(Above) Centreville on a touchdown drive just before halftime
Centreville wasted little time as sophomore Hunter Travis put the Tigers in striking distance with an opening kick-off return down to the Central Private 39 yard line. Six plays into the drive it appeared that Central Private’s defense had held, forcing Centreville into a 4th down and 13 from the CP 24 yard line. Centreville caught the Rebels off guard as senior wide-out Beau Field took a hand-off around the left end for a 24 yard touchdown run. Gavin Travis’ PAT gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.
Central Private’s opening possession mustered only one yard as the Rebels went three and out. Brandt Moore’s 36 yard punt enabled Centreville to set up shop at their own 34 yard line with 6:10 left in the first quarter.
Centreville showed little effect from the soggy conditions as they went up 13-0 on a 5 play 66 yard drive capped off by a Zach Sinclair 16 yard burst up the middle for the second score of the night. Sinclair accounted for 48 yards on the drive highlighted by a 35 yard scamper on a 2nd and 7 from the Tiger 37 yard line. The PAT failed.
(Above) Centreville quarterback Tyler Towles (#8) hands off to Zach Sinclair (#23)
Central Private mounted a drive on their second possession. The Rebels moved from their 40 yard line to the Centreville 31 as the first quarter ended with the Tigers up 13-0. Facing a 3rd and 3 to open the second quarter Bobby Muse was stopped for no gain and then on 4th down Muse came up one yard short at the Tigers 29 yard line to end the drive.
Five straight Zach Sinclair carries quickly pushed the line of scrimmage all the way down to the Central Private 7 yard line with 8:40 left in the opening half. After a Cliff Hurst one yard gain Sinclair hit pay-dirt once more with a 6 yard touchdown run. Centreville’s two point attempt failed and with 7:47 showing on the clock the Tigers held a 19-0 lead.
(Above) Central Private holds Zach Sinclair short of the goal line
Central Private had trouble most of the night establishing any positive drives as the Rebels again went three and out after losing 11 yards on their third possession. Following another Brandt Moore punt Centreville took over at their own 36 yard line. Zach Sinclair ripped off 34 yards on 1st and 10 all the way down to the Rebel 30 yard line. Three plays later facing a 4th down and 11 from the Central Private 37 yard line Centreville incorporated a little “trickaration” as wide-out Hunter Travis handed to Beau Field on a well executed reverse that produced a 12 yard gain and a first down at the Rebel 25 yard line. Sinclair gobbled up a quick 19 yards down to the Central Private 6, but the Rebel’s defense stiffened and forced Centreville into a 4th down from the 3 yard line. With 2:13 left in the half Sinclair took a handoff and was hit hard at the one yard line forcing the ball loose into the air and right into the waiting hands of wide-out Colby Lockwood who was standing two yards deep in the end-zone. Cliff Hurst converted on a two attempt as he hauled in a deflected Tyler Towles pass to increase the Tiger lead to 27-0.
(Above) Central Private tailback Bobby Muse finished with 122 yards rushing
Just as Central Private thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did. Bobby Muse’s 25 yard kick-off return set the Rebels up at their own 28 yard line with just over two minutes left in the half. Muse then ran for a quick 17 yards to the 45 and followed with an 8 yard pickup into Centreville territory at the 47 yard line. On a 2nd and two Jason Young’s pass to Lance Wicker resulted in a six yard loss back to the Rebel 47 yard line. On the next play Centreville defensive back Beau Field recovered a Bobby Muse fumble at the Central Private 45 yard line to kill the drive with 42 seconds left in the half. Four plays later Centreville quarterback Cliff Hurst hit Colby Lockwood with an 11 yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds left in the half. Gavin Travis’ PAT increased the Centreville lead to 34-0 at the half.
Centreville made wholesale substitutions to begin play in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the quarter. Central Private notched two scores in the final quarter, quarterback Jason Young ran one in from 16 yards out and then threw a one yard touchdown pass as time expired.
Centreville had 384 total yards on the night to 221 for Central Private.
Centreville tailback Zach Sinclair ran for 172 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Beau Field added 50 yards on two carries and a touchdown.
Central Private tailback Bobby Muse was held to 28 yards in the first half but finished the night with 122 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Both teams will host round one playoff games next Friday night. Centreville (8-3) will entertain Glenbrook (7-3) and Central Private (8-2) hosts Bowling Green (6-4).
